For many Naples owners the year has two clear edges. In roughly November they arrive and the house wakes up. In roughly April they leave and the house goes quiet for the summer. Both edges are easy to get wrong. People arrive tired and find a warm, musty house with no hot water. Or they leave in a rush and forget the refrigerator, the thermostat and the main valve. Arrival and departure prep is the service that smooths those edges, and it is often what first convinces snowbirds to hire a home watch provider.
Departure shutdown: leaving the house for the summer
A good shutdown routine protects the house for six months. Some owners do it themselves, some use a provider on the day they leave, and some use a provider for the second pass a few days later. A typical checklist includes:
- Setting the thermostat and humidity to the away plan you have agreed
- Closing the main water valve, or following the plumber's advice for your home
- Emptying the refrigerator and freezer, and cleaning them, with the doors propped as needed
- Taking out all trash, including from the garage, so there is nothing to attract pests
- Locking all doors and windows, closing blinds as you prefer, and setting the alarm if you have one
- Putting up storm shutters if it is early enough in the season to matter
- Stopping or forwarding mail and newspapers, and telling the provider about deliveries still expected
- Leaving keys, codes, gate access and emergency contacts with the provider in writing
Arrival prep: getting the house ready before you land
A provider can open the house a few days before you arrive and take care of the unglamorous work that makes the first night comfortable. What gets done depends on what you ask for, and most providers quote it per visit or bundle it into a seasonal plan.
- Opening the house and letting it air out
- Turning on the water and checking for leaks as the pressure comes back
- Switching the water heater back on and checking that it works
- Setting the AC to your arrival temperature and confirming it is cooling
- Running the ice maker and checking the refrigerator and freezer
- Opening the garage and checking vehicles, or starting a car that has been sitting
- Collecting mail and packages and leaving them in the house
- Some providers also stock groceries, make the beds or arrange a cleaning, either themselves or through a vendor
Why prep matters in Naples
A closed house in a Florida summer is a warm, humid, sealed box. Anything that lets moisture or pests in, from a dry drain trap to a warm refrigerator, becomes a bigger problem over months. When you come back, you want a house that is dry, cool and clean. The way to get that is to leave it right and to open it right. See AC, humidity and mold checks and water leak checks for what happens between the two.
Mid-season visits and guests
Seasonal owners also have family and friends who use the house for a few days. A provider can prepare the home before a guest arrives, check it after they leave, meet them with the key, and remind them how the gate and alarm work. This is particularly useful for second-home owners who rent occasionally or lend the house to relatives. If you rent the house for money, you may be getting into property management, which has its own licensing rules in Florida. Ask your provider where the line is.
When do snowbirds actually come and go?
Most seasonal Naples residents arrive around November and leave around Easter or April, though plenty come as early as October or stay into May. Providers get busy at both ends of the season. If you want a specific day for arrival prep or departure shutdown, book it a few weeks ahead, particularly around the holidays and the Easter weekend.
What drives the cost
Arrival and departure services are usually priced per visit or as a seasonal bundle. Cost depends on the size of the home, the amount of prep, whether groceries or cleaning are included and how far the provider travels. Ask for a written list of what is and is not included. A bundle that includes four or five visits across the season is often cheaper than paying separately for each one.
Frequently asked questions
Can the provider stock my refrigerator before I arrive?
Many providers will, if you send a list. Some charge a shopping fee and you pay for the groceries. Ask what they offer.
How far ahead should I book arrival prep?
A few weeks, especially around October and November. Providers are busiest when many owners return at once.
Should I do the departure shutdown myself?
You can, but many owners pair their own list with a visit from the provider a few days later, to double-check the house after they are gone.
Areas served
Naples, Old Naples, Park Shore, Moorings, Coquina Sands, Port Royal, Pelican Bay, Grey Oaks, Mediterra, Quail West, Talis Park, Tiburon. Home watch in Bonita Springs | Home watch in Estero | Home watch in Marco Island